Sam Maguire,
A History Of Sam Maguire
Who was this man?
Most people who have heard of Sam Maguire did so because they
have heard of the Sam Maguire cup. But who was the man? Why has
the GAA a cup named after him? This is not just a minor cup but
the all Ireland senior football cup. Maguire never won an all
Ireland medal. Never was a president of the GAA, so why was this
most prestigious cup named after Sam Maguire.
The Sam Maguire Cup
Samuel Maguire was born in 1879 in the townland of Mallabraca
near the town of Dunmanway in west cork. Sam had four brothers
and two sisters, Willie was the eldest then Mary, Jack Dick Paul,
Sam and Elizabeth.
The Maguires farmed 200 acres of land. They were a church of Ireland
family but mixed with everyone protestant and catholic alike.
Sam was educated in the model school in Dunmanway and afterwards
the national school in Ardfield, which Michael Collins later attended.
Here the local school master, Mr. Madden, prepared for the British
civil services examinations. At the age of 20 Sam successfully
passed the exams as he was an excellent student and then he got
a job in the London post office.
When Sam Maguire went to london to work in the civil service he
joined the London Hibernians, even though he never played with
his local, the Dohenyes, at home in Dunmanway. At this time the
all Ireland final was Contested by the clubs who won their county
championships and the London champions got a bye into the final.
There was a "home final" and an all "Ireland final".
Sam Maguire played in the all irelands from 1900 to 1903, in 1901
and again in 1903 he was captain.
In June 1906 he captained his side in the final of the Croke cup.
Some sources claim it was an all Ireland however this is untrue
as all Ireland records do not show this. It was sam's last time
to play in Jones's road (Croke park), and on an Irish pitch.
In 1907 Sam became the chairman of the London county board and
delegate to the annual congress of the GAA. He became a trustee
of Croke Park. Coincidentally, vice chairman of the London county
board was Liam McCarthy born in London in 1851 of a Cork Father
and a limerick mother who also worked in the London post office.
The all Ireland hurling senior trophy is in memory of Liam McCarthy.
Sam Maguire now turned his attentions to the Irish republican
brotherhood. He was a great leader and soon rose to the rank of
Lieutenant -General of the IRB and directory of intelligence in
Britain. When Michael Collins became head of the IRB Maguire was
one of his Chief intelligence officers.
Sam remained working for the I.R.B in London until 1921. Why he
left London is somewhat unclear but some sources state that British
intelligence were suspicious and started inquiries into this mysterious,
Sam Maguire, this was after the assassination of Sir Henry Wilsion
who was shot dead outside his home in Belgravia.
He returned to Dublin in 1921 and got a job in the newly established
Irish civil service. Because of his political convictions he clashed
with superiors in the Irish civil service and this led to his
dismissal.
Maguire had become a regular at Croke Park in these days. But
he had to return Mallabraca because of failing health. Sam Maguire
died of tuberculosis February 6th 1927 at the age of 48.
A Celtic cross was raised over his grave with a simple inscription
"erected to the memory of Samuel Maguire, Mallacraba who
died 6th February 1927 by the people of Dunmanway and his numerous
friends throughout Ireland and England in recognition of his love
for his country. He is buried in the Protestant cemetery of saint
Mary's Dunmanway.
In 1928 shortly after Sam Maguire's death a group of his friends
formed a committee in Dublin to raise funds for a permanent commemoration
of his name. They decided on a cup to be presented to the G.A.A.
The G.A.A were proud to accept it a Maguire was very important
to the war of independence and he was the only protestant to captain
a team in the senior football final. The cup cost £300 in
those days equivalent to €25,392, and was modeled on the
Ardagh Chalice and made by Hopkins and Hopkins of O'Connell's
bridge.
Kildare was the first county in 1928 after defeating Cavan 2-6
to 2-5 to win the Sam Maguire cup. Even though the cup aged with
grace it had to be replaced in 1998. Meath's Joe Cassells who
captained his county to victory over Cork in a replay was the
first recipient of "Sam og".
Note: On September 15th, 2002, a statue of Sam Maguire was unveiled
as the centrepiece of a new E500,000 town plaza in Dunmanway.
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